Cammino di Santiago de Campostela - Leòn - Santiago - Spain

From July 21st to August 5th, 2018
Description: The Camino de Santiago is, by definition, the experience that every hiker must undertake at least once in their lifetime. The final destination of the route is the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. For centuries, following Rome and Jerusalem, the city has been the third most important devotional center of Christianity since the news of the discovery of the tomb of Saint James the Greater spread at the beginning of the 9th century. Along the way, you will encounter true treasures of art and culture, particularly in the historic cities along the route. Several paths lead to Santiago; we have chosen the ancient “French Way,” of which we will walk the final 13 stages (thirteen days of walking), from Leòn to Santiago de Compostela for a total of approximately 310 km on foot. Our journey begins in Leòn, the “blue city,” as it was called by those who were left in awe by the hues of the stained glass windows in its celebrated cathedral. Its fame is due to three architectural masterpieces belonging to different styles: the Romanesque church of San Isidoro, the imposing Gothic cathedral, and the Renaissance church of San Marcos. The first six stages are in the Castilla y León region, while the rest are in Galicia, a region with a distinct historical heritage where it is still common to encounter festivals of Celtic origin. Upon reaching the final destination of our journey, "Santiago de Campostela," we will conclude the trip in Finisterre, a city considered by the Romans to be "the end of the world," as it is the westernmost point of Europe. Tradition dictates that pilgrims take a dip in the ocean here as a sign of purification and burn a piece of clothing worn during the journey.

Fee: € 290.00 - Includes guide service and RCT insurance.
Other expected expenses: € 480.00 (not to be sent in advance, but to be brought with you). This includes costs for meals, accommodation, and luggage transport (a backpack or suitcase of no more than 21 kg for those who prefer to walk light; those who wish to carry a heavy backpack save € 4 per day).
The fee does not include: travel to and from the meeting point.
Air, train, or bus tickets to reach the meeting point and for the return journey are purchased directly by the participants once the trip is confirmed (min. 8 participants). Flight routes and times for ticket purchases will be communicated upon trip confirmation.
Deposit: € 100.00 at the time of booking.
Balance: € 190.00 by July 10th, 2018.
INSURANCE and CONDITIONS: In addition to the RCT insurance, medical assistance is covered by your European Health Insurance Card. Our trip participants have the option to take out travel cancellation insurance. Anyone interested in this coverage must notify us in writing at the time of booking.
Meeting point: Saturday, July 21st at 6:00 PM at the León Bus Station.
End of trip: Sunday, August 5th at 10:30 AM at the Santiago de Compostela bus station.
Max number of participants: 14
Daily walking hours: from 5 to 8 hours.
Nights: overnight stays in pilgrim hostels. Due to logistics, there is a possibility of sleeping in a hotel for a few nights.
Highlights: the magic of the Galician landscape, the silence and introspection, the Celtic culture, the architectural beauty of Leòn and Santiago, and the majesty of the Atlantic at Finisterre.
Trip type: itinerant.
Difficulty: challenging.
Required equipment: trekking clothing, trekking shoes, long trousers, hat, trekking poles, flashlight, shower sandals, rain poncho (k-way), sweater, waterproof jacket, sleeping bag liner or light sleeping bag, water bottle, swimsuit, and personal toiletries.
Meals: breakfast at bars or hostels, packed lunch along the way, dinners at pilgrim restaurants or local trattorias.
Tips: backpack with a capacity of 50 liters, not exceeding 8 kg for women and 10 kg for men (for those who decide to walk with a heavy backpack). Alternatively, a 25-liter backpack and a trolley of no more than 21 kg. For those who choose luggage transport via shuttle, the cost is 4/5 euros per day.
Duration: 16 days/15 nights.
Booking deadline: June 30th, 2018. For those interested, trip confirmation will be provided once the deposit has been paid as per the program. Late booking may result in difficulty securing spots in pilgrim hostels.
Notes: the excursion may undergo changes due to unpredictable natural events; in such cases, the guide will make the final decision.
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact – 3334987946
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Program

July 21st: Saturday at 6:00 PM meeting in León, Bus Station. Evening dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay at the pilgrim hostel.
July 22nd: Leòn – San Martin del Camino. Walking hours: 7 – Medium stage, 26 km.
July 23rd: San Martin del Camino – Astorga. Walking hours: 6 – Medium stage, 24 km.
July 24th: Astorga – Foncebadòn. Walking hours: 7 – Challenging stage, 26 km.
July 25th: Foncebadòn – Ponferrada. Walking hours: 7 – Challenging stage, 27 km.
July 26th: Ponferrada – Villafranca del Bierzo. Walking hours: 5:30 - Easy stage, 22.5 km.
July 27th: Villafranca del Bierzo – La Laguna de Castilla. Walking hours: 8 - Challenging stage, 28 km.
July 28th: La Laguna de Castilla – Triacastela. Walking hours: 5 - Easy stage, 21 km.
July 29th: Triacastela – Sarria. Walking hours: 5 - Easy stage, 20 km.
July 30th: Sarria – Portomarin. Walking hours: 5:30 - Medium stage, 22.5 km.
July 31st: Portomarin - Palas de Rei. Walking hours: 6 - Medium stage, 24 km.
August 1st: Palas de Rei – Ribadiso da Baixo. Walking hours: 7 - Challenging stage, 25 km.
August 2nd: Ribadiso da Baixo - Pedrouzo (Arca). Walking hours: 5 - Easy stage, 22 km.
August 3rd: Pedrouzo (Arca) - Santiago de Compostela. Walking hours: 5 - Easy stage, 20 km.
August 4th: after breakfast, departure by bus for Finisterre, in Latin Finisterrae (end of the world). Tradition dictates that pilgrims take a dip in the ocean as a sign of purification and burn a piece of clothing worn during the journey. Return to Santiago by bus in the evening.
August 5th: Sunday at 10:30 AM end of service at the Santiago de Compostela bus station for the return to Italy.